Ex-Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin denies corruption claims.
Former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin Denies Corruption Allegations
In an interview with Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade, former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin vehemently denied allegations of corruption against him, dismissing them as baseless. Shokin claimed that he was fired in 2016 under pressure from then-Vice President Joe Biden due to his investigation of Burisma, a company on which Hunter Biden served on the board. However, Shokin’s dismissal has been attributed to corruption by various media outlets, international watchdogs, and even fellow Ukrainian prosecutors.
Challenging the Accusations
Kilmeade confronted Shokin with some of these allegations during the interview, but Shokin dismissed them without hesitation. When presented with reports accusing him of corruption from reputable publications such as the Washington Post, Washington Times, and Wall Street Journal, Shokin responded, “I would appreciate if any of these highly respectable publications could come up with a single instance or a single example of my personal corruption or any offense whatsoever allegedly committed by me. Since I was fired, nobody, including Joe Biden, has cited or mentioned or provided any examples of my corruption or any offense allegedly committed by me.”
Kilmeade then questioned why Shokin hadn’t sued the outlets for defamation if the allegations were untrue. Shokin explained, “I would gladly [sue for defamation]. But suing somebody costs money, and I simply don’t have the money to do that because I am a retiree, and my monthly pension constitutes the equivalent of $800.”
Shokin also emphasized that during his tenure, there were no complaints or problems with his performance on the job.
The White House’s Response
The White House swiftly condemned Shokin’s allegations, asserting that Biden had him fired over his investigation into Burisma due to Shokin’s own corruption. White House spokesman Ian Sams stated, “For years, these false claims have been debunked, and no matter how much air time Fox gives them, they will remain false. Fox is giving a platform for these lies to a former Ukrainian prosecutor general whose office his own deputy called ‘a hotbed of corruption,’ drawing demands for reform not only from then-Vice President Biden but also from U.S. diplomats, international partners, and Republican senators like Ron Johnson.”
Even Shokin’s own deputy, Vitaly Kasko, spoke out against him, alleging that Shokin took no action in cases against a former government minister who indirectly controlled Burisma. Kasko resigned from his position in 2016, describing the office as a “hotbed of corruption” and a hindrance to foreign investment in Ukraine.
The White House also highlighted claims that Shokin was not actively investigating Burisma at the time of his dismissal. Daria Kaleniuk, a prominent Ukrainian activist, stated in 2016, “Shokin was not investigating Biden. There were several cases into Burisma and Zlochevsky, but Shokin was blocking those investigations.”
Shokin has announced that he will provide further details on his claims against Biden in his upcoming book.
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